Apple signals China Mobile deal on the horizon with new job posting

Apple is seeking a Carrier Engineering Manager with expertise in China Mobile's homegrown TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE cellular networking technologies for Apple's Beijing office, signaling that the iPhone may finally be close to a debut on the world's largest wireless carrier.

The position, first spotted byBloomberg, will act as technical liaison for Apple's carrier partners throughout the greater China region with direct reports in Beijing and Hong Kong.

In addition to expertise with GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, and FD-LTE  which are used by Apple's current regional carrier partners  the job requires extensive experience working with TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE, technologies developed by China Mobile and the Chinese government to enable advanced mobile communications without paying significant patent royalties to western companies. TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE are rarely deployed outside of mainland China.

Apple says the person who eventually fills the role will be responsible for "obtaining approvals for all Apple hardware and software, supporting carriers with new technology trials, managing carrier reported technical issues, tracking carrier roadmaps and supporting senior level engineering meetings."

When reached for comment, China Mobile's Beijing press office told Bloomberg that "China Mobile and Apple have been in talks on cooperation, and there is no information that can be disclosed."

A deal to make the iPhone available to China Mobile's 740 million subscribers has been rumored for months, and many analysts have cited the potential partnership as a key driver of increased iPhone sales in 2014. The iPhone 5s and 5c were granted regulatory approval to appear on China Mobile's nascent 4G TD-LTE network in September, though the Chinese government has yet to issue operating licenses for that technology to the carrier.

They haven't even hired the person who is going to be responsible for finishing the product and getting government approval. Doesn't sound like a deal is "on the horizon" at all. Or, at least, there won't be any phones sold for quite a while.

They haven't even hired the person who is going to be responsible for finishing the product and getting government approval. Doesn't sound like a deal is "on the horizon" at all. Or, at least, there won't be any phones sold for quite a while.

"The iPhone 5s and 5c were grantedregulatory approval to appear on China Mobile's nascent 4G TD-LTE network in September,"

So the product is finished and has been approved. I expect they're adjusting to a faster customer (carrier) response loop for new products stationing someone right there.

All analysts just looking at nothing but overall market share numbers have been ignoring the fact that Apple's offerings weren't even available in some of the biggest markets world wide. After China mobile, they may shift their attention to India.

They haven't even hired the person who is going to be responsible for finishing the product and getting government approval. Doesn't sound like a deal is "on the horizon" at all. Or, at least, there won't be any phones sold for quite a while.

Maybe the same tasks were being done by someone else under a different title and they are just creating a new position that's more specialized in this area. Have you thought of that? Just because this position didn't exist, doesn't mean someone is doing these tasks as a different position.

They haven't even hired the person who is going to be responsible for finishing the product and getting government approval. Doesn't sound like a deal is "on the horizon" at all. Or, at least, there won't be any phones sold for quite a while.

You are making the assumption there is only one of these positions. And, that Apple does not already have someone at this level doing exactly this effort

TD-LTE is not limited to China Mobile. Sprint is using that for all the 2500 MHz spectrum they acquired from Clearwire also called band 41. They will have around 6,000 towers with TD-LTE by the end of the year. These towers will provide around 50 Mbps. All their other towers on 800 and 1900 will use FD-LTE. Both new iPhones support TD-LTE in some bands, but not Band 41 that's needed by Sprint. China Mobile has authorized bands 38, 39 and 40 in 2.6 GHz, 1900 MHz and 2.3 GHz, respectively, for its TD-LTE network, and all three bands are supported by the new iPhones. It sucks that the new Sprint iPhone is not tri-band LTE which will severely handicap it especially for the majority of the 2 year contract period.

FD is certainly far more popular than TD but many more countries besides China Mobile use it as well so it is rather is silly to say it is rarely deployed outside of China Mobile when it is used in the U.S., Russia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Australia, and in Africa as well.